Life-preserver.



No. 727,318. PATENTED MAY 5,1903. J. A. ELENIUS.

LIFE PRESERVER. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 6. 1902.

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UNTTED STATES Patented May 5, 1903.

' PATENT OFFICE.

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SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 727,318, dated May 5, 1903. Application filed November 6,1902. Seria1No.130,30l. (NomodeLi To all whmn it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN AUGUST ELENIUS, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at; Cal umet, in the county of Houghton and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Life-Preservers; and I do declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in life-preservers of that class em ploying a'pneumatic body consisting of a series of air-chambers adapted to be inflated to render the body buoyant, the said body being provided with means of attachment to the person of the wearer, forming a belt or band which may be quickly applied for use and which is adapted to perform its work in an efficient manner.

The object of this invention is to provide an inflatable belt of this character which provides improved means for securing the same to the person, for inflating the air-chambers, and for closing said chambers against the escape of air and which is simple of construction, inexpensive of production, and which when not in use may be folded or rolled in close compass.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, as will be more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a life-preserver constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section showing the chambers inflated and'sealed, and Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail sectional View of one of the stoppers and one of the valved tubes of .the belt. 7 g

In carrying my invention into practice I provide a series of inflatable bulbs or vessels 1, cemented or otherwise suitably united at their ends to form a linear band of non-communicating air-chambers, each of which is provided with a tube or nozzle 2, containing a check-valve 3, which is adapted to open to allow air to enter the chamber and to automatically close to prevent the escape of the same. The end chambers of the'belt or band so formed .by the connected series of'chambers are provided with extensions 4:, which are suitably slotted for the passage of a retainingbelt 5. This belt 5 consists of two sections 6 and 7, adjustably connected together at their inner'ends by means of a buckle 8 or other suitable connection which will permit of the belt being shortened or lengthened to fit the body of the wearer to which the preserver is applied, the section 6 being provided at its free end with a hook 6- and'the section 7 at its free end with an eye 7, forming the parts of a clasp, which are adapted to be engaged to clasp the belt about the person of the wearer. As shown, the sections 6 and 7 of the belt are further provided with straps S to connect them with the inflatable band between the air-chambers 1 and prevent the latter from sagging intermediate of its length and throwing objectionable strain upon the extensions 4.

By the construction thus far described it will be seen that the belt and band of airchambers when connected provide a pneumatic appliance which may be readily and conveniently applied to the body of the wearer and which will furnish sufficient buoyancy to keep the wearer afloat in the water as long as the supply of air is retained in said chambers.

In the use of the invention the pneumatic belt is first inflated by the application of pump-nozzles to the nipples 2, the valves 3 opening to allow air to enter the chambers l and then closing to prevent its escape, and the belt is then applied to the person by passing the belt or band about the body and connecting the book 6 with the eye 7, and, if desired, adjusting the belt 5 at the buckle 8 to adapt the appliance to fit with a desired degree of tightness. After the belt has been inflated and prior to or "after its application to the body of the wearer the nozzles'2 are closed to prevent theentrance of waterto the chambers 1 by means of a sealing device con sisting of a series of stoppers 12 carried by a chain 13, which may be made fast at one end to the inflatable band or belt 5, if desired. Each of these stoppers consists, preferably, of a cork body having a rubber packingor gasket 12", adapted to seal the nozzle 2 securely against the escape of air and the inlet of water. It will thus be seen that the stoppers not only add to the buoyancy of the belt, but close the entire series of nozzles against the escape of air and the inlet of water, thus adapting the belt to retain its buoyancy for a long period.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the invention will be readily understood without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A life-preserver comprising a retainingbelt, an inflatable band composed of a series of spaced-apart non-communicating air-chamhers and having slots at its ends for passage of the ends of the retaining-belt, and vertical straps extending transversely of the inflated I belt between the air-chambers and connected to the retaining-belt whereby the inflatable band is intermediately supported without pressure on the air-chambers, substantially as described.

2. A life-preserver comprising a retainingbelt, an inflatable band composed of a series ofspaced-apart non-communicating air-chambers each having a check-valve or inlet, said inflatable band being provided with slots at its ends for passage of the ends of the retaining belt, vertical straps extending transversely of the inflatable belt between the airchambers and connected to the retainingbelt, stoppers closing the air-inlets of the several air-chambers, and a flexible connection uniting the stoppers, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN AUGUST ELENIUS.

Witnesses:

AUGUST CARLsoN, JOHN EARN. 

